Follow Up &
Thank You Letter
A follow up or thank you after an interview can significantly affect whether or not an offer is extended. In addition, you are demonstrating personal and professional qualities that are typically sought by an employer:
- Dedication
- Tenacity
- Attention to detail
- Ability to follow through
It offers a strategic means of tipping the scales in your favor.
Besides demonstrating your interest level and the desired qualities employers seek, the follow-up letter offers the opportunity to reassure the employer that you are the best choice for the position. This can mean the difference between an offer being extended to you rather than to another candidate.
There are different ways to follow up and you may want to let your interest level in each position guide you.
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Thank You Card: A quick handwritten note on a thank you card sent within 24 hours of the interview demonstrates your interest in the position and some of the personal and professional qualities sought in a candidate. This is a time to thank the interviewer for his/her time and courtesy. |
E-Mail Thank You: An e-mail is similar to the thank you card but may be easier to send. Keep in mind that for e-mail to be effective, it should be reserved for those employers who regularly check their personal e-mail on a daily basis. If in doubt, use a card. |
Strategic Follow Up Letter: The strategic letter is a more thorough and formal follow up that includes the elements of the thank you card or e-mail but goes a couple of steps further:
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This follow up helps nudge that often difficult decision in your favor.
Regardless of which follow up step you choose initially, it is best to jot down the specifics of the interview immediately after your interview while it is fresh in your mind. You will want this information for subsequent steps such as additional interviews or later follow up.
Remember, while follow-up can make the difference in being extended an offer now, it also helps to leave the doors open for the future. Interviewing for one position may lead to another.
- Thank You Letter Template
- Sample Thank You Letter
Your Mailing Address
1 space
Date
1 space
Company Contact or supervisor’s name
City, State, Zip
Telephone Number
(1 space)
Salutation (Miss, Ms., Mrs., or Mr.) Names and salutations are very important and personal. It is wise to ask the person you interview with how they prefer to be addressed. Don’t assume! Use Miss as a courtesy before the name of an unmarried woman; Ms. is commonly used when marital status is unknown.
(1 space)
1st Paragraph
- Thank the interviewer for opportunity to interview with them.
- Indicate date of the interview and position applied for.
(1 space between paragraphs)
2nd Paragraph
- Reinforce why you should be hired.
- Reinforce your strengths and skills.
- May refer to something you found positive or were impressed by.
Closing Paragraph
- Reconfirm again your interest in the position. (If you are not interested in position after interviewing, send a note to thank the interviewer for his/her time.)
- Reinforce that you are looking forward to hearing from them. (If they told you to check back with them, this is where you would inform them that you will contact them on such-and-such a date.)
(1 space)
Respectfully,
Write your signature with a black pen.
(4 spaces)
Your Name
1234 Maple Street
Portland, OR 97205
June 28, 2000
Ms. Marie Snodgrass, Editor
Portland Area Minority Newsline
101 NW Hawthorne Center
Woodburn, OR 97071
555-555-5555
Dear Ms. Snodgrass:
Thank you for inviting me to interview for the assistant copy editor position at your Portland office on Thursday June 16th. I appreciated the relaxed atmosphere that you provided during the interview and left with an even stronger desire to be a part of your team.
As we discussed, school-wide readership increased by 15 percent during my term as editor of the Western Wire, Ontario College’s student newspaper. I am confident that my skills, experience, and education in journalism would make me a positive contributing member of your organization.
Thank you for your time and attention. I look forward to hearing from you soon. You can reach me at 555-555-5555.
Respectfully,
Nancy Carter
For more information regarding employment services, please contact Chemeketa Job Placement at 503.399.5026 or visit us in Building 2.
Chemeketa Job Placement is an equal opportunity employment program offering services to students and alumni without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, marital status, or disability.
Updated April 28, 2009 by Web Services.